MDMK would demonstrate against check dam: Vaiko

Chennai, Feb 2 (UNI) Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko today announced that his party would go ahead with a protest demonstration planned against the proposed check dam across Palar river despite denial of permission by police.

The party had announced an agitation in Vellore on February 7 to condemn the ''callous'' attitude of the Centre and the State Government on the issue and to stress the need to stall Andhra Pradesh Government's project in the interest of northern districts in Tamil Nadu, he said in a statement here.

Mr Vaiko said the police, however, had turned down the party's request to accord permission for the agitation. But, it had permitted a demonstration by DMK's farmers wing in the same town on January 19, he added.

Stating that it was the democratic right of opposition parties to hold agitations and observe fasts, he accused the DMK Government of misusing the police force to oppress the rights of the Opposition.

Condemning the ''autocratic'' attitude of the Government and the police, Mr Vaiko asserted that the party would violate the prohibitory order and stage the demonstration on the scheduled date and time.

UNI